Desert - Animals A desert can provide a habitat for many insects, reptiles, birds and mammals. The range of animals will change, depending on the region in which the desert is located. Some animals found in a desert may include:
Insects /Arachnids Reptiles Birds Mammals • beetles • lizards • owls • camels • spiders • snakes • wrens • wild dogs • ants • vultures • mice Desert Animals Deserts are hot and dry but many animals do live there!
What do animals eat and drink? Where do they shelter? Camel
A camel’s hump stores fat that can be changed into energy when food is scarce.
To protect themselves from sandstorms, they have long eye lashes and their nostrils can close to keep sand out.
Camel’s feet are wide to avoid slipping through sand. The soles of their feet are thick pads to avoid burns from the hot sand. back Meerkat
The dark rings around a meerkat's eyes reduces the glare of the hot desert sun. Their eyes also have a transparent layer which protects their eyes while they are digging into the sand to make burrows.
The layer of fur on a meerkat’s stomach is thin. This means when they lie on their backs in the sun, their bodies warm up quickly.
Meerkats prey on many animals in the desert, including rodents, birds and scorpions. back Sidewinder
Sidewinders are rattlesnakes that live in some of the hottest deserts on earth. They are known for the strange patterns their movements leave in the sand.
A sidewinder’s colouring means it is camouflaged against the sand. This makes it easier for it to catch its prey. Unlike most species of snake, female sidewinders are larger than males.
They can move at speeds of up to 29 km per hour. back Fennec Fox
Fennec foxes, also called desert foxes, are known for their very large ears. The ears help them listen for their prey. The ears also help heat to leave the fox’s body.
The long thick fur protects the fox’s skin from the sun during the day and keeps the fox warm in the cool desert nights.
The hair on the fox’s feet protects it from hot sand. The feet are specially shaped to make it easy for the fox to dig their underground dens. back Scorpion
Scorpions are arachnids, which means they are in the same family as spiders. Scorpions can slow down the amount of energy they get from food so they can survive on a very small amount of food in the desert.
They avoid the heat of the desert by burrowing underneath the sand.
30 – 40 species of scorpion have a sting strong enough to kill a human! back Lizard
Lizards are cold-blooded animals, so they rely on their environment to help warm them up. They use the hot desert sun to get warm. Some lizards have spiny scales on their toes to help them run across the sand instead of sinking into it.
A lizard’s claws help it burrow underneath the sand to help it escape the hot sun and also flee from predators. Some lizards have clear membranes over their eyes to protect them while they back burrow.